Update on the situation of Scyphophorus acupunctatus in Italy
Scyphophorus acupunctatus (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae – formerly EPPO Alert List) is a pest of Agavaceae (e.g. Agave, Beaucarnea, Dasylirion, Dracaena, Furcraea, Polianthes, Yucca) originating from the Americas which has been introduced into several Mediterranean countries (e.g. Cyprus, France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal). In the Mediterranean region, S. acupunctatus is now established and common in areas where its main host Agave americana has colonized natural areas or unmanaged semi-natural areas.
In Italy, incursions of S. acupunctatus were first noticed in 1998 in a glasshouse in Lombardia on Beaucarnea recurvata plants which had been imported from Nicaragua. In 2006/2007, the pest was first reported in Sicilia on Agave americana (EPPO RS 2002/046, 2008/179). Since then, observations of this insect in several Italian regions have been posted on a forum for entomologists (Forum Entomologi Italiani):
- Basilicata (2013, in Bosco Pantano di Policoro – 2015, in Policoro).
- Puglia (2014, in Marina di Ginosa).
- Lazio (2014, in Sperlonga).
- Toscana (2015, Monte Argentario).
- Liguria (2016, in Bordighera).
In Liguria, it is noted that since 2018, S. acupunctatus has been detected in several locations along the Ligurian Riviera from the French border to Imperia, in areas where Agave americana colonizes semi-natural coastal environments and slopes along roads and railways. In these habitats, attacked plants may present a danger to the public as leaves or other plant material may fall onto roadways. In 2019, S. acupunctatus was also observed in the Hanbury Botanical Gardens and in a private historical garden near Ventimiglia, both harbouring important collections of Agavaceae with century-old specimens. In these gardens, S. acupunctatus has been observed on several species of Agave, Furcraea, Dasylirion, and Yucca. A management programme is being implemented by the Hanbury Botanical Gardens (University of Genoa) and the CREA-San Remo (Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'economia agraria) to contain the pest.
Sources
Boero F, Mariotti M, Zappa E, Ferrari S, Monroy F (2021) Lignes directrices pour la mise en place d'un plan de gestion du charançon noir dans le Jardin Botanique Hanbury. Les Rencontres de Thuret - Invasions biologiques végétales et animales en Méditerranée (Antibes, FR, 2021-09-29/30). INRAE. p. 27. https://www.lifesamfix.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Livret-des-re%CC%81sume%CC%81s.pdf
Monroy F, Von Schweinichen P, Boero F, Mariotti M, Zappa E, Ferracini C (2021) Caractéristiques du cycle biologique du charançon noir de l'agave Scyphophorus acupunctatus dans la zone d'invasion méditerranéenne. Invasions biologiques végétales et animales en Méditerranée. Les Rencontres de Thuret - Invasions biologiques végétales et animales en Méditerranée (Antibes, FR, 2021-09-29/30). INRAE. p. 33-34. https://www.lifesamfix.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Livret-des-re%CC%81sume%CC%81s.pdf
Forum Entomologi Italiani. http://www.entomologiitaliani.net/public/forum/phpBB3/search.php
Personal communication with Elena Zappa. Hanbury Botanical Gardens. Università degli Studi di Genova (2022-06).